Chapter 22: Realizations

Aurora's POV

"We're here." Mom said, turning off the car engine. I look out from my window and I saw the graveyard that I haven't seen since the last visit here.

I step out of the car and I walked with Mom, who is on my right as she place her arm around me. We walked past by a lot of gravestones and I can feel a sudden chill on my face as the cool wind swiftly hits it.

Then I spotted a familiar gravestone that is different from the others.

The gravestone was as white as the crystalline snow. As soon as I'm near the beloved gravestone of my father, with his name beautifully carved on it, I reached out... at first with my cerise pale fingers to touch the marble and run my fingers over the black engraved lettering.

Somehow... the feel of the stone on my skin brought some peace. It was still beautiful, polished and smooth. The color of the marbled gravestone is almost similar to my deadly and cold skin.

I can feel his presence and it almost felt like he's still alive but in reality... he isn't. Yet, it feels like he's looking down on us.

If he's still alive, I wouldn't end up being Steven's little... puppet. I wouldn't end up trapped in this fucking nightmare that might never end. But it could end... if I step up for myself.

"Okay, let's just go." I said as I took off. I can hear Mom's footsteps following behind me, heading back to the car. I look around and I saw someone, specifically a guy with a somewhat built physique, not too far and I caught him staring at me as if he's... watching. I walk a bit slow as I squinted my eyes and I saw the face of... Steven?!

After seeing his face, horrible memories of him just starts playing in my mind.

My eyes widen up and the next thing I know, I can feel my legs shaking and I lost my focus on walking which leads me to lose my balance and fall to the ground. I can feel myself shaking and my breathing goes faster.

"Aurora! Sweetie, are you okay?" Mom said and I look back to the guy and he's gone. "What's gotten into you?"

"I'm... I'm fine. I j-just tripped." I said in a shaky voice as I lift myself up from the ground, dusting off my knees and hands.

"Be careful while you're walking." She scolded a bit. We continue walking towards the car and as soon as we're near the car, we hopped inside.

Mom started the engine and drive off. I look out from my window and I furrowed my eyebrows. He has the same features as Steven, just like... earlier back at the lake.

'Could that be... Steven's other twin?'

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Despite that sudden... thing back at the cemetery, I had a great time with Mom. I wish I could spend more days like this with her like we used to everyday.

Mom stopped the car engine after we parked next to Mr. Anderson's car, which means... they're back.

We head inside and I saw Mr. Anderson having a conversation with Toby and Steven. Mom joins in and I told her that I'll be visiting Mrs. Victoria for awhile.

I head out of the house once again and walk over to her house which is across the street.

Her house is more simple than the others and she has a beautiful front yard filled with different kinds of flowers.

I knock on her door and waited. It didn't take long as the door swings open and I came face to face with Mrs. Victoria's lovely and friendly face.

"Oh hello, Aurora. Do you need anything?" She asked. I take a deep breath and look back at the house.

"Yes, may I come in... please?" I said nervously.

"Of course, come in." She let me enter the house and she closes the door. Looking around her house, it gives off a vintage/ old school vibes. Her house smells like rosemary and mint, not too sweet or too strong, and it hit my nostrils as I slowly breathe in its scent. Trinkets here and there, paintings of flowers and cats hanging everywhere.

She leads me to the small dining room and there's a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

"Take a seat." She said. I sit down and wait. A minute later, she came to the table with a tray of blueberry muffins, some scones and two teacups filled with lemon tea.

She handed one of the teacups to me and I accepted it. The sweet smell of lemon tea gives comfort and it somehow makes you feel warm since it's very chilly these days. I take a sip of it but then I end up drinking all of it.

"Do you want a muffin or a scone?" She asked.

"A muffin is fine, thank you." I said and she placed the blueberry muffin on a plate and hand it to me. She then sit down and took a sip of her tea.

"Now, what is it that you need from me dear?" She asked and I stiffen my grip on the small delicate handle of the white teacup.

"It's about Steven..." I began. "What's he like before I came along? "

"Okay. He seems to be a quiet and reserved boy and he doesn't seem to care about anyone or anything. He always have this blank and dull expression on his face. He's been like that ever since he was little." She answered and I noticed there's a bit of cautiousness in her eyes.

"And also... does he have a twin brother?" I asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes he does have a twin brother and his name is Stefan." She answered and my eyes widen up a bit. "But it was being said that he ran away when he's seventeen and never came back."

"Is Steven the younger brother or the older brother?"

"He's the youngest and Stefan is older by five minutes." She replied.

"Wait... how old is he now?" I asked.

"I think he's around twenty-three years old since his brother ran away six years ago." She answered and I can feel myself shaking.

You have got to be fucking kidding me. I'm a sixteen year old girl raped by a twenty-three year old guy and I'm pregnant with his fucking child inside of my stomach.

"I-I think I need to get going. T-Thanks for the tea though, Mrs. Victoria. " I stammered as I quickly head towards to the door.

"Anytime." She called out to me and I head out. Walking back to my house, I enter the house and close the door behind me.

"Aurora, is that you? It's dinner time!" Mom called out. I gulped and head off to the dining room.

"There you are. Sit down and eat with us." Mom said.

"A-Actually, I'm not really hungry." I said. "Also mom, I've been invited by Heather to her house for a sleep over and I was wondering if I could go please?"

From the corner of my eye, I can feel Steven's eyes studying me and I can tell he's not happy hearing about it.

"Oh okay. Well, you better pack up if you haven't started yet. " Mom said. "Also, do you want Dad to drop you there?"

"I don't mind." Dad joins in. "I'll be happy to drive you to your friend's house."

I nodded. "Okay, I need to start packing now." I left immediately and head upstairs to my room.

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I double check everything and I make sure that I have everything for tonight. I zip up my bag and then all of the sudden, a hand grabbed my wrist and made me turn around.

"Do you think going to a friend's sleepover is just your fucking excuse to get away from me? It's fucking pathetic." Steven scoffed.

"It's not an excuse." I pry my hand off of his grasp. Then he just grab my shoulders and his grip tightens up as if he's going to break my shoulders in a minute or so.

"Ow, Steven! You're hurting me!" I cried out.

"You're such a whiny little brat. All you do is whine and whine all night. Don't even try to escape Aurora, this is a game of tag we'll play."

"You know what? You're a fucking monster!" I said, taking his hands off my shoulders but he wouldn't budge.

"Why you little-" Before Steven could finish his sentence, Toby called out and enters the room. Steven immediately takes his hands off of my shoulders and clear up his throat.

"Aurora, Daddy's wondering if you're ready or not. " He said.

"Tell him, I'll be down in a minute."

He nodded and left the room. I grab my bag and about to head out but then Steven stops me by grabbing my forearm. He leans forward, almost close to my ear as I can feel his breath against my cheek.

"Don't forget that you still have our child inside of you. " He said and I let out a shaky gasp.

I frowned. "I never wanted a child at a time like this. You ruined me... I hate you. " I whispered the last part and pry his grip off of me and quickly head out.

Steven's POV

I can't believe she just did that to me... And I won't let her get away with it.

'If she wants to play it this way... then so be it. She is going to regret it.'